If we believe in what was told in the folk narrative then we ought to begin this story with an assumption that the first stems of grapevine were planted somewhere in the area around Bikić Do during the Roman times. The wine making and viticulture have since then up to present days shaped the everyday and economic life of citizens of Fruška Gora region with varying intensity.
The prosperous epochs of grape and wine in this regions were considered to be the times of counts Odeskalki, especially the one when Livio Odeskalki lived, who apart from Erdevik erected a distinctive wine cellar and villa surrounded by vineyards and cared after garden in Bikić Do in 1826. The PP Erdevik used to manage the Bikić Do vineyards, villa and cellar during the socialist period only for it to become the property of the families Ilić and Nijemčević in 2011.
The wine villa was restored in 2013 in a manner that enabled it to preserve the former outlook and square footage, while nowadays with its outlook and surroundings it stands as true jewel among the structures used for the same purposes in Fruška Gora region. The vineyards belonging to this winery spread on 10 hectares in Bikić Do and 3 hectares in Banja Vrujci. The grape assortment[1] that the owners opted for includes: Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Italian Riesling, Muscat Hamburg (used for Rose wine), Cabernet Sauvignon and Frankovka, while in Banja Vrujci they have Merlot, Rhine Riesling and Chardonnay.
The wine offer includes: Vinarija Ilić-Nijemčević Rhine Riesling, Vinarija Ilić-Nijemčević Italian Riesling, Vinarija Ilić-Nijemčević Sauvignon Blanc, Vinarija Ilić-Nijemčević Chardonnay, Vinarija Ilić-Nijemčević Frankovka, Vinarija Ilić-Nijemčević Cabernet Sauvignon, Vinarija Ilić-Nijemčević Merlot, Vinarija Ilić-Nijemčević Rose and Vinarija Ilić-Nijemčević Rose Blue.
The above-mentioned wines have been classified as complex, intensively coloured with Fruška Gora terroir whose life starts with careful nurturing of vineyards and reduction of yield so that 1.5-2kg of grapes is poured into a bottle of wine. The wines are obtained from their own vineyards where each step is being controlled, which together with knowledge, creativity and dedication of contemporary winemakers headed by the oenologist Jovan Popov and grape grower Miroslav Zarecki means the undisputed quality.
That quality is verified at numerous exhibitions and wine appraisements: Novi Sad Fair 2019 (champion of the Novi Sad Fair for Vinarija Ilić-Nijemčević Chardonnay (2017) and gold for Vinarija Ilić-Nijemčević Sauvignon Blanc (2017); Novi Sad Fair 2020 (gold for Vinarija Ilić-Nijemčević Chardonnay (2019), Vinarija Ilić-Nijemčević Sauvignon Blanc(2019), Vinarija Ilić-Nijemčević Italian Riesling (2019) and Vinarija Ilić-Nijemčević Rhine Riesling (2019); The International Wine Challenge – AWC Vienna 2020 (silver for Vinarija Ilić-Nijemčević Italian Riesling (2019), Vinarija Ilić-Nijemčević Chardonnay (2019) and Vinarija Ilić-Nijemčević Sauvignon Blanc (2019), bronze for Vinarija Ilić-Nijemčević Rhine Riesling (2019); The Balkans International Wine Competition and Festival (BIWC) 2020 (silver for Vinarija Ilić-Nijemčević Chardonnay (2019), Vinarija Ilić-Nijemčević Sauvignon Blanc (2019), Vinarija Ilić-Nijemčević Italian Riesling (2019) and Vinarija Ilić-Nijemčević Rhine Riesling (2019), while the following year at the same exhibition Vinarija Ilić-Nijemčević won the golden recognition for Chardonnay (2020) and silver recognition for Sauvignon Blanc (2020).
Apart from usual presentation of excellent wines the visitors shall have an opportunity to enjoy themselves in a tour of wine cellar – a unique museum that represents the exhibition of skill and art of creating the space for a cellar related wine activities over the period of two centuries. The visitors impressed with everything there is to offer from wine concrete cisterns, stainless steel tanks up to huge barrels that await to be given new usage, perhaps the one that will provide for romantic enjoyment in wines.
The attractiveness of the offer lies in the fact that we are dealing with a hundred metre long cellar from the beginning of the 19th century that in many aspects represents the superb piece of architecture fully in harmony with the need to preserve wine and wine cellar management. The wine house is a place of enjoyment. The visitors are given the possibility to choose between several units where they can spend time in wine temptations.
Tasting of three to five kinds of wine is followed by snacks for separation of wine (two types of homemade prosciutto, homemade sausage, selection of cheese, olives and bruschetti), but if previously agreed the offer can extend to include the Srem lunch (appetizers, homemade chicken soup, lamb or pork under the cast iron casserole, salads and homemade strudel).
The terrace of the villa as well as the park in front of it transform into magnetic sights where the beauty of Fruška Gora forest and plentitude of vineyards stand as only focal points. The space, subject to prior arrangement, can become a place for a private celebration, family gathering, while the amicable hosts are there to show that they are the heirs of a tradition that used to set apart this region as par excellence wine region.
The announcement is mandatory.
Podrumska Street bb, Bikić Do
Phone: +381 (0)63 444 180
E-mail: ivanailic79@gmail.com
Website: www.vinarija-in.rs
Text: Gordana Stojaković
Photographs: Aleksandar Milutinović
Tourism Organisation of the City of Novi Sad is not responsible for changes in information and services.
The text posted in: September 2021
[1]Transcription of the grape assortment names is given according to: Cindrić, Petar and Vladimir Kovač (2007) “Vinogradarstvo i vina“ (“Viticulture and Wines“) Fruška Gora. Ed. Nebojša Jovanović and Jelica Nedić. Pg. 498. Beograd: Zavod za udžbenike.
